Tel: (239) 433-5995 15971 McGregor Blvd, Ft Myers 33908 AHA@AHolisticApproachCenter.com
Team Page
Nika Bocharova
Active Release Technique - ART®
Trigger Point/Sports Acupuncture
Originally from Stavropol, Russia. Nika moved to Fort Myers in 2002. She has over 10 years of experience. Nika is passionate about injury free lifestyle and training, and believes it can be achieved by taking care of one’s body before it gets hurt.
She is proficient in identifying biomechanical flaws that may lead to over use injury. She works diligently on establishing a maintenance regiment so that patients are able to continue participating in their favorite activities. She puts big emphasis on acquiring new treatment techniques and modalities. Acupuncture and acupuncture point injection therapy are newer additions to her vast repertoire of skills.
Nika is proficient at pain relief and continues to focus on modalities that improve the patients’ quality of life, including treating the most common ailments and reducing the symptoms of many difficult diseases.
A.R.T. ® is a patented, state of the art soft tissue system and movement based massage technique that treats problems with muscles, tendons, ligaments, fascia, and nerves. Headaches, back pain, carpal tunnel syndrome, shin splints, shoulder pain, sciatica, plantar fasciitis, knee problems, and tennis elbow are just a few of the many conditions that can be quickly and permanently resolved with A.R.T.®. These conditions all have one important thing in common: they are often a result of overused muscles.
How do overuse conditions occur?
Click here to view more on Our Services page.
Active Release Technique® is a corner stone of the diagnostic and treatment methodology, followed by remedial program of stretching and strengthening.
Trigger point / sports targeted acupuncture blends the holistic approach of Traditional Chinese Medicine with the specificity of Western Sports Medicine protocols. She treats with a broad perspective and a wide range of treatment tools, including acupuncture, soft tissue manipulation manual techniques, corrective exercises, and herbal therapy.
The following are used to assess the patient:
1. Orthopedic Evaluation - 2. Postural assessment - 3. Traditional Chinese Medicine
The patient will often be given corrective exercises to help with the effectiveness of the treatment. The goal of all intervention is to stimulate healing, correct postural disparities, improve the health of the entire system to support the body’s progression back to health and well-being.
Cindy Carfore
Founder & Director of AHA!
QEST (QE), Reiki Master
She is the Founder and Director of AHA! A Holistic Approach Center.
Like many of us, she was first deeply transformed herself by the resounding wholeness that holistic healing can provide.
Cindy suffered from Chronic Fatigue Syndrome for15 years, and during that time her mother Luella also became ill with cancer. A trip to Colorado in late 2000 proved to be one of the most pivotal and transformational growth points of her life. She discovered Quantam Energetics Structured Therapy (QEST), and was deeply impacted by the profound improvement this energy healing created to alleviate her fatigue. So moved, she returned to Colorado to learn and receive QEST sessions, every 6 weeks for 18 months, and ultimately became a QEST Practitioner herself. She then knew she desired to create a foundation that will provide complementary medical care for cancer patients.
Cindy has earned her:
- Bachelor of Science & Medical Technology (ASCP) from Western Michigan University
- QE Practitioner Certification from the Quantum Energetics Institute
- Masters of Natural Health from Clayton College
- Doctorate in Naturopathy from Clayton College
Peggy Day
Front Desk
A retired nurse, she moved to Fort Myers in 2014 and loves her community and surroundings. When she is not working the front desk, she is thoroughly enjoying life. She say she “feels lucky to have found AHA!” and has been with us since 2015.
(We feel lucky to have found her too!)
Lisa Doyle-Mithcell
Certified Biofeedback Specialist
Lisa Doyle-Mitchell is a Certified Biofeedback Specialist by the Natural Therapies Certification Board. She is licensed, insured, and trained on the L.I.F.E. System, a non-invasive biofeedback device that scans nearly 7,000 energy patterns. By identifying which energy vibrations are out of balance, the system can put them back into harmonic balance allowing your body to return to a state of rest and healing.
Biofeedback is a mind–body technique in which individuals learn how to modify their physiology for the purpose of improving physical, mental & emotional well-being. Thanks to the efforts of scientists like Tesla, Einstein and many others, we know that the Universe is 98% energy! Everything found on, in, under, and above the Universe has its own dynamic energy. Our entire body continually vibrates at a subtle level, moving energy and information through the connective tissues that encase us.
"For me, biofeedback was one of the tools I chose as part of my personal recovery through Multiple Sclerosis. It brought a voice to my subconscious as to the underlying cause of this bump in my road, which lead me to a breakthrough. My body recognized certain vibrations and registered a stress response accordingly. Because the biofeedback system made use of the information obtained when assessing my energy field it was able to identify which vibrations were out of balance, training me to put them back into balance, which allowed my body to return to a state of resonance. I continue to use biofeedback to maintain my well-being to this day." - Lisa Doyle-Mitchell
For more information on Biofeedback & Lisa Doyle-Mitchell, please visit: www.bluestarbiofeedback.com
Lynn Epstein
Front Desk
She joined the AHA! team in September on 2019 and is works full time on the front desk. She relocated to Fort Myers from Long Island in 2017 and is the mother of two daughters, and the proud Grandmother of a Grandson.
She enjoys the Florida lifestyle of boats, water and being outdoors!
Karen Lauchlan, LMT, CLT, RN
Craniosacral & Massage Therapist (MA 85827)
She is trained in sports and chair massage, acupressure, myo-fascial release, and CranialSacral Therapy. She is also certified in Lymphedema Therapy and Manual Lymphatic Drainage.
Originally from Scotland, Karen is also an RN. She has passed all five levels of the
Upledger Institute’s Cranial Sacral Program and was a Teacher’s Assistant for a year.
She has also received her Lymphedema Therapy Certificate.
Emily Matejka
Registered Nurse & Certified Thermographer
Emily's passion is to help people truly thrive from the inside-out. Her goals are to widen her experience and knowledge about health & wellness in all aspects of life. She's especially excited about offering Thermography at AHA because it gives people the opportunity to be as proactive as possible about their well-being.
Her favorite things in life are the beach, her dogs Maggie & Moose and investing time with her family and friends.
She earned both her RN & Certified Thermographer licenses in 2022.
Renee Moore
Front Desk
After many exciting careers (Texas cattle ranch, modelling & acting in NYC, Europe & LA, working on Wall St, dental practice administrator in NC), she joined AHA in 2017.
Now happily semi-retired, she says’ she “gets to play at AHA with this amazing group of kind & talented teachers, healers & therapists.” She is a devoted mom to her rescue dog 'Malibu,' loves dancing and chasing live music all-around SWFL.
Robert Murdoch, A.P.
Acupuncture, Functional Medicine, Holistic Pediatrics
An Acupuncture Physician for over 39 years, Robert Murdoch also specializes in Functional Medicine and Holistic Pediatrics. He is dedicated to helping people recover from injury and illness, mild and severe, and to give them back their lives.
Dr. Murdoch possesses over 4400 hours of medical and natural medical training, including 5 years at the College of Traditional Acupuncture, Royal Leamington Spa, UK In addition to television and radio appearances.
He has authored three books and has been published in the British Medical Journal,
Red Flags, and Acupuncture Today.
Natalie Murdoch
Baby & Infant Safety Initiative
Assistant/Office Manager for Dr. Murdoch
Natalie is Dr. Robert Murdoch's Assistant & Office Manager. She leads the "Baby and Infant Safety" Coaching Initiative. She also works as a Birth Doula in the greater Fort Myers area, helping women in their last stages of pregnancy, birth and early parenthood. Her goal is to encourage parents and to keep children happy and healthy.
Joey Raines,LMT
Chronic Pain Specialist, Massage Therapist (MA91967)
Over the years, he has trained extensively in the US and abroad with some of the most prominent experts in the field of manual therapy, pain neuroscience and Qigong.
Joey reflects some of the world’s most effective healing methods, ancient and modern. With over 25 years of experience, he offers advanced holistic techniques to accommodate those seeking to overcome the physical and emotional demands of today’s complex society without the use of drugs.
He specializes in treating acute and chronic pain conditions such as TMJ (jaw) disorders, back, shoulder and neck pain, SI joint dysfunction, and trauma-induced pains like those seen in motor vehicle accidents. Joey uses a unique healing approach to reduce or eliminate pain by rebalancing the autonomic nervous system, the system that regulates stress and relaxation. This approach allows for consistently good long-lasting results in a short period of time resulting in fewer visits.
He is also an expert in addressing the underlying stress or emotional factors
that so often contribute to chronic pain and headaches.
Alva Ways
Transformational Breath
Alva Marie Ristevski is an internationally recognized expert on conscious breathing and is Lee County's only certified and practicing Transformational Breath Facilitator. She is fluent in the anatomy of the breath and assists her clients in learning and executing proper breathing technique, because, when we begin to breath better we begin to live better. It is simple and yet profound. Whether your personal battle is physical, emotional or spiritual, Transformational Breath is here to help everyone.
Alva Marie has helped thousands across the US and Central America achieve
quick and lasting personal transformations. She is also mentor to many students across
the US who are working on gaining their certification as breath facilitators.
Alva has lived, practiced, and been dedicated to
this work here in SWFL since 2012.
Dorothy Rodwell, LMFT
Certified Holistic Integrative Mental Health Practitioner
Having studied both traditional and non-traditional approaches to psychotherapy, Dorothy now favors the newer, brief therapy methods.
She is certified in Rapid Resolution Therapy. Dorothy’s education includes Level 1 Training in
Gottman Method Couples Therapy, Mindfulness Based Stress Reduction; Certified Practitioner
in Clinical Hypnosis w/ Rapid Trauma Resolution; MS Adult Education, Florida International
University; MS MFT, St. Thomas University; Licensed Marriage and Family Therapist
Geoff Sharp, LMT
Massage Therapist (MA34170)
Even before arriving from South Africa over 20 years ago, Geoff was caring for the people’s aches and pains. A massage therapist for over 20 years, he now specializes in trigger point and deep tissue work for those dealing with neck, shoulder, and back pain.
Before becoming an LMT, Geoff worked for 13 years as a home health aide
and personal care specialist for Hope Hospice.